In a major development, Hamas, on Monday, released another video of a hostage, wherein it showed a young woman receiving medical treatment at an unknown place, Jerusalem Post reported.
According to the report, the girl introduced herself as Mia Shem from Shoham and said she was kidnapped by Hamas at a party and added she has been receiving medical treatment.
“Hi, I'm Mia Shem, 21 years old from Shoham. Currently, I'm in Gaza. I returned early Saturday morning from Sderot; I was at a party," the Israeli media quoted her as saying in a video it found on the messaging application, Telegram.
However, India TV does not claim the authenticity of this video.
"I am fine, they are taking care of me"
Interestingly, the girl was heard saying she was fine and the Hamas militants were taking care of her injured hand. She further pleaded with the Israeli authorities to bring her home.
"I was seriously injured in my hand. I underwent surgery on my hand at the hospital [in Gaza] for 3 hours. They are taking care of me, giving me medicine, and everything is fine. I only ask that they bring me home as soon as possible to my parents, to my siblings. Get me out of here as soon as possible. Please," added the report.
Total of 199 hostages kept in Gaza: IDF
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military claimed Hamas and other Palestinian militants were holding 199 hostages in Gaza-- at least 44 higher than previous estimates. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said that the families have been notified. He did not specify whether that number includes foreigners, or say who is holding them. Most are believed to be held by the Hamas militant group, which rules Gaza.
“We are making valiant efforts to try to understand where the hostages are in Gaza, and we have such information,” Hagari says in response to a question at a press conference, further vowing to not carry out any attack that endangers their lives, reported The Times of Israel.
Meanwhile, fears over devastating humanitarian consequences as well as the lives of hostages captured by militants continue to grow amid a looming Israeli ground offensive in Gaza. Hundreds and thousands of Palestinians already taking shelter in schools and hospitals running low on food and water.
